Cholesterol is the main regulator of the carbon dioxide permeability of biological membranes

Abstract

We present here a compilation of membrane CO 2 permeabilities (Pco 2 ) for various cell types from the literature. Pco 2 values vary over more than two orders of magnitude. Relating Pco 2 to the cholesterol content of the membranes shows that, with the exception of red blood cells, it is essentially membrane cholesterol that determines the value of Pco 2 . Thus, the observed strong modulation of Pco 2 in the majority of membranes is caused by cholesterol rather than gas channels.